Once upon a time, hybrids made up a small fraction of a vehicle’s sales. Now they dominate Toyota and Lexus showrooms.
In the case of medium size Lexus NX SUV buyers have flocked to the NX 350h hybrid and NX 450h plug-in hybrid, leading to very long wait times.
The NX 250 The NX 250 sits at the top of the range and hasn’t seen the same fanfare. While it doesn’t have the same frugal powertrain as the popular NX 350h, the NX 250 has plenty to offer on paper.
It’s nearly $10,000 cheaper than the next model in the line, the NX 350h 2WD Luxury, and still comes fully loaded with standard equipment.
Lexus doesn’t really make entry-level models; while you’ll lose out on some of the amenities offered in other cars in the same segment, even the cheapest NX is a lovely place to spend some time.
Do you really need hybrid power?
How to Lexus NX compare?
See detailed analysis of Lexus NX compared to similarly sized vehicles.
Lexus Cars
NX
How much does the Lexus NX cost?
The NX 250 2WD is certainly the cheapest model in its class, even when equipped with the Advanced Package ($3000) on our test car.
| Model | Price before rolling |
|---|---|
| Lexus NX 250 2WD 2024 | $63,400 |
| Lexus NX 350 AWD F Sport 2024 | $80,060 |
| Lexus NX 350h 2WD 2024 luxury | $71,600 |
| Lexus NX 350h 2WD 2024 Sport Luxury | $79,100 |
| Lexus NX 350h 2WD F Sport 2024 | $79,100 |
| Luxury Lexus NX 350h AWD 2024 | $76,400 |
| Lexus NX 350h AWD 2024 Luxury Sports Car | $83,900 |
| Lexus NX 350h AWD F Sport 2024 | $83,900 |
| Lexus NX 450h+ AWD F 2024 | $95,248 |
To see how the Lexus NX stacks up against the competition, check out comparison tool.
What is the inside of the Lexus NX like?
Smaller screens, simpler dashboards, and no head-up display make this a basic car, but it still comes with plenty of luxury amenities.
The driving position is good, providing a panoramic view of the road ahead and good support for long journeys.
The car has plenty of legroom, but the sunroof takes up headroom and makes the space feel a bit more claustrophobic.
Since this is not a panoramic device, it is not necessary.
Excellent quality. This is a base model, you might expect a few rough spots or cheap touches but that’s not the Lexus way.
The faux leather on the seats is soft, and the steering wheel and short-throw shifter are quality items.
With no head-up display, you also get proper buttons on the steering wheel instead of the cumbersome knobs found in more expensive models.
Compared to more expensive models, you’ll miss out on some kit. The 8.0-inch touchscreen looks small in the large gloss black housing on the dashboard, and the digital instrument cluster is a simple display surrounded by analogue fuel and temperature gauges, and a rectangular trip computer.
The small touchscreen is fully functional. Wireless Apple CarPlay worked flawlessly throughout our week with the car and responded quickly to inputs.
Lexus has ditched complicated controls and annoying menus in favor of the latest technology, while making it much easier to navigate the car.
Lexus gets extra points for having a large temperature dial and keeping important climate control functions locked to the bottom of the screen no matter what else you’re doing.
Satellite navigation wasn’t enabled on our test car, but three years of cloud mapping comes standard when you activate a Lexus Connected Services account.
Up front storage is solid. There’s a wireless phone charger at the base of the dash that slides out to reveal a place for your wallet or keys, and a combination USB-A and USB-C port for charging your devices.
Deep underarm storage, cupholders are just the right size for a cup of Melbourne coffee and the door pockets have room to fit a large water bottle.
The NX’s rear seat space is comparable to its segment peers and improved over the previous model.
Legroom is decent for taller adults, and there’s enough headroom to accommodate full-sized adults. Despite being slightly larger, the BMW X3 still has more space and airiness thanks to its more upright window line.
But the NX isn’t far behind. The rear doors open nice and wide, and there are three top-mounted seatbelt points for child seats.
Two USB-C ports in the back let kids charge their iPads on long trips, and as you’d expect, there’s a fold-down center armrest and rear air-conditioning vents.
The trunk opens up nicely and has a low loading lip that makes it easier to slide heavy items in. Although it looks a little flimsy, the luggage cover also folds in half for easier storage.
| Size | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Length | 4660mm |
| Width | 1865mm |
| Height | 1660mm |
| The standard long | 2690mm |
| Cargo capacity | 520 liters (5 seats) 1141 liters (2 seats) |
To see how the Lexus NX stacks up against the competition, check out comparison tool.
What’s under the hood?
No turbocharger and no hybrid assistance, the 250 is the first version of the NX line.
| Specifications | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L 4-cylinder gasoline |
| Engine output | 153kW |
| Electric motor output | 243Nm |
| Transmission process | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive wheel | Advance |
| Weight | 1705kg (curb) |
| Fuel economy (claimed)) | 6.9L/100km |
| Fuel economy (tested) | 7.5L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 67 liters |
| Fuel requirements | 91 RON |
| CO2 emissions | 158g/km |
| Emission standards | Euro 6 |
| Braking ability | 1000kg |
To see how the Lexus NX stacks up against the competition, check out comparison tool.
How does the Lexus NX drive?
At first, pressing the start button and hearing the naturally aspirated engine fire up was quite jarring, rather than the high-pitched beep we’ve come to expect from Lexus hybrids.
But once you get past that fact, it’s actually a pretty sophisticated tool.
Performing the tasks most mid-size SUV owners do – picking up the kids from school, going shopping and running sports on Saturdays – this car is very capable, cruising at low revs without making too much noise or fuss.
The auto start-stop system takes a while to activate after you start the car, but once it does it’s smooth and smart. There’s no learning curve here; no awkward dual-clutch or hybrid transfer to think about if you’re coming off an older car.
This isn’t a sports crossover. And it shouldn’t be, as Lexus owners tend to favor comfort and refinement over great handling.
The chunky steering wheel is paired with a light, smooth steering system that makes the NX easy to drive around town, and the suspension has been set up for compliant rather than rock-hard body control.
The ride isn’t as busy or stiff as some rivals with sporty wheels and tuned suspensions, and the combination of small wheels and thick tires on our test car did a good job of avoiding harsh potholes in the city.
Step on the gas and you’ll realize that the naturally aspirated engine has to work harder than the turbocharged 350 of the same class, let alone the 350h.
The car is bumpy at high revs and the automatic transmission needs to downshift one, two, three gears at 80km/h when you want more performance.
Once in the power band, the engine has enough acceleration and power to move, but not as easily as other turbocharged engines.
Cruising, however, is fine. Ride quality remains excellent, and Lexus has some of the best road noise insulation in the business.
Rough roads and steep inclines are handled with a quick turn, giving you a sure-footed and well-controlled feel when driving the NX out of town.
With smart, smooth adaptive cruise control that maintains distance from the car in front and lane-keeping assist that steers the car back between the white lines, this is an easy car to drive over long distances.
What do you get?
Highlights of NX 250 and NX 350h Luxury:
- 18 inch alloy wheels
- Electric rear door
- Automatic LED headlights with auto leveling function
- Automatic headlights
- 8.0 inch digital instrument cluster
- 9.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wireless Apple CarPlay
- Wired Android Auto
- Satellite positioning
- DAB+ digital radio
- 10-speaker sound system
- Dual zone climate control
- Front heated seats
- Heated door mirrors
- Rear spoiler
- Roof rails
- Keyless entry and start
- 8-way power front seats with 2-way driver lumbar support
- Interior ambient lighting
- Rain sensing wipers
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- 8-way power passenger seat
Advanced Package ($3000) adds:
- Sunroof (tilt and slide)
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Wireless phone charger
Is Lexus NX safe?
The Lexus NX has received a five-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted by Euro NCAP.
| Type | Lexus NX |
|---|---|
| Protect adults | 91 percent |
| Protect children | 89 percent |
| Protecting vulnerable road users | 83 percent |
| Safety Support | 92 percent |
Standard safety equipment includes:
- 10 airbags
- Automatic emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian Detection
- Daytime cyclist detection
- Fork Support
- Blind Spot Monitoring
- Rear Cross Traffic Assist
- Support safe escape
- Lane departure warning
- Lane Tracing Assist (lane keeping)
- Emergency steering assist
- Adaptive cruise control
- Traffic sign recognition
- Reverse camera
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Tire Pressure Monitoring
Every new NX comes with a complimentary three-year subscription to Lexus Connected Services.
How much does it cost to run a Lexus NX?
The Lexus NX comes with a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, like many other Lexus models.
| Operating costs | Lexus NX 250 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, unlimited km |
| Roadside Assistance | 3 years |
| Maintenance interval | 12 months or 15,000 km |
| Ceiling Price Service | 5 years |
| Total service cost ceiling | $2475 |
CarExpert review of Lexus NX
The NX 250 is an example of a properly engineered base model.
No, it’s not as efficient as the hybrid or as powerful as the turbocharged NX 350, but it’s also significantly cheaper than both.
The engine is powerful enough to handle everyday tasks and has impressive specs for the price. Some base models feel cheap and clunky; as if they’re punishing you for saving money.
Lexus hasn’t done that yet, and the NX feels as special as you’d expect. It’s quiet and refined on the highway, and the build quality is extremely solid.
If you have the budget, the hybrid is still the better choice for what Lexus can do in the NX. But buyers looking for the Lexus experience on a tighter budget won’t be missing out on much here.
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